New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-05-21
THE ALDERMEN IN AN UPROAR.
4 p1ssRAcEruLLY DIsoRDERLY MEETING.

n n m dtSRrace1ul
At one time 1t looked though their meeting would
hrcak nm in disorder. Tho "combne" stood together
soy and defeated the efforts Of the Mayor and the pres
dent of the board give franchises to the new electric
light companies. The meeting was special one csiieo
for the purpose OF acting the reports or the La"
mittee and the Committee on Lamps and Cas- eacn Vi
which had given o hearing TO the REPRESENTATIVE WIZ
electrie light compa MES looking for franchises
As soon as President Beekman announced that the reg
MAR business was In order Colonel Mooney chairman OF
the Committee on Lamps and Gas, handed up wnat no
called the majority report on the electric light pusi-
ness Mr. Beekman said that the rewas already major
fly report that committee signed by four members
Colonel Mooney roared his the only majority re-
port The president. he said was only entitled to attend
the meetings and debate an exoffcio MEMBER pu'
could not vote sign reports
Chairman Beekman-The report signed by -FOUR members
will be deemed fhe majority report. ,,r. tor
Colonel Mooney (exctey and shouting IN yocg S tSc
Chair Does the Chair claim to be member OF all commit
Mr. Beekman replied cooly and calmly that he did 50
claim.
Colonel MooneyThen move that the minority ps sno s
previous question.
ME- Van RENSSELAER, commended that the chairman
right Mr. Oakley called attention to Colonel MONEYS
point Of order Mr. Beekman directed the clerk to pro-
coed with the regular order of business Colonel Mooney
male and excited advanced from his seat to the space In
front OF the presidents desk and said: "Ihep move
that we suspend all other business and proceed Win ths
matter In hand / move again that VIC act on the MI
nority report This seconded by several members
The president directed the clerk to read the majority re-
mort and pounded his desk with his gavel. "Ths is
high-handed proceeding, protested Colonel Mooney
ycepresdent Diver declared that the ruling OF the
president was unfair Several other members joined
in Above the could be heard the voice OF Mr. Menu
niger the Sixth District saloonkeeper Oh Wy don't We
quit"
,rb,opgh all the turmoil tho president kept
bis head clear Mr. Farrell moved finally that
tie report OF the majority signed by frcsi
dent Beekman and Aldermen John Murray, Goetz
and Fanne be read This done after good deal OF
bustering The report PROVIDES that M ny no
granted to the American, Wa terhOuse Ball. MI MOTIFS
and Harlem Electric Light companies 10 erect poles ana
string wires subject usual legal restrictions The
companies furnish free OF charge an arc hsh or
cent for every nea foot street along which wires are
stretched Then the minority report slgnei by Alder
provides the granting of franchises to the
who lave pa 9r free IN the civ one arc
light for every five furnished to private consumers a
private individuals shall pay no more tha e S ann
two surees that they will carry out he PROVISIONS %
the franchise. When the reading was hnshed tne preS
dent decided that the majority report should take pre-
This brought Colonel Mooney his feet again Another
five minutes OF combustion followed and sun could ne
heard the voice of Mennuger-" oh, Wy don't We al
The president more restored order by persistent
rapping and announced ih ,he Gas Tommis
finds itself in regard TO the pending Ods Ior HghS
the city with electric Il2ht Inc mayor SAUL
The price paid year 20 cents per night per lamp
The bid after yertsemont made during The pres
en- e One Of % he eT
covere territory in which there was no competition ,d
SS tsrrtory awaited 10 it. All other bids rejected
S%s or s nS 3 Of these bids
apSa GEn o on ana a ns the Wires necessary the
mission OF the electric current s s1 nT os b eO ow and
would to the city annually large amount OF money,
doesOn Monday next IN the hope that the Common
Council VIII put INC III Sar $780,
may be- lights throughout the city provided
tits evident iai the city be snpped with electric
paid lighting with The preference Of the public
preSention OF crime Tie good city the gen
es s 81 6sT boSndsn ny to extend the
hgn9s far as ss %HISs a. s Of vow"
n Gs Should Syss shf see By to
ton you the cost unnecessarily oil inc Lights
ETe Sg public duty You'd seem
mission position provide the city with lights at re-
upon the enlarged scale required by pubhc
opinion
The Mayors words excited only passing rotice. 1t
evident that the majority Of the Board had made up
their minds as to the course they Intended 10 pursue
Mr. Van Rensselaer, strongly advocated the adoption OF
an opinion from the Corporation Counsel. setting forth
that the Common Council had no right TO regulate the
sumers Mr. Flynn demanded by what right the opinion
Of The n hs sd That Wa Dart
of MI Van Reusselaers speech, and therefore priv
oS their if feet Shouting motions and points Of order
Vice-presdent Diver said This is dlsgraceIu, Inc
deep tones of Menninger SAID, move that we ADJOURN
aud call for the ayes and noes" .
vigorous batterng the desk for two three minutes
the bowling members were reduced to order Inc pres
dent decided that Mr. Van Rensselaer, VINO had remained
standing through the confusion mad not relnqnshed the
floor Mr. Van Rensselaer, mate t ana eSa
OF the Aldermen to compel the companies 70 TX price
for private consumers That must be LETT TO cOmpeu
ton. The minority report was an ingenious attempt TO
prevent any competition with the old companies: The
hive city lights for every afty furnished to private
OF Itself prOhibitory 1t was twenty per
OF the entire business OF the new companies While
the old companies had no such restriction.
Colonel have four lawyers IN this board a. They
Of corporations They want us to give franchises to cor
What they please get nothing or it Now,
my people sent me here s to see sr una VA; eny ar
air they don't these franchises they are looking for
adopted sir.
Mr. walker said that the proposition of the companies
furnish the city lgat at less rate ana charge
individuals at a high rate.
Mr. Bowling. chairman Of the law committee, who has
all along worked against allowing the new companies TO
gel franchises said that some restrictions should be
placed on the AMY lie had bes1
told by gentleman connected with one OF the companies
that his company could furnish lights at twenty-five
cents light and make forty per cent on the outlay
Mr. ConklIng, in reply TO Colonel Mooney. said that
the first meeting in January set them;
honest legislation lie had endeavored to get at the
true inwardness of the East Liver Electric Light
Company. lie had been informed that among the |
heaviest stockholders some prominent Democratic
politicians. and prominent Democratic contractor nv
Ing in Twente;hst Probably That was the reason 1t
rushed through the board so quickly He had been
informed by officer OF an electro light company that
there were only about $50 individual patrons OF the
electric light companies 1t looked as II the 300 indyid-
uals being favored at the expense OF the million
and half of people IN this city
The mention OF Democratic contractors made Colonel
Mooney Iairy Jump His other efforts were tame com
pared this ouiburst He declared that never before
had party been dragged into discussions In the board
II the question made party one. lie would welcome
1t. Where would the Republicans he Thank God, IL
crime to be Democrat, although some persons
would like TO make II so.
After q deal talk Meunngers cry, oh, don't
We adjourn coming In at stated intervals Mr. Ftzger
aid moved the previous question This carried is to
.. Colonel Mooney again made motion to have the
minority report substituted for the majority, but
p...n r...rn n..uIa rnnI VIC